Laundry treating appliance having multiple wash systems and multiple-chamber dispensing

ABSTRACT

A laundry treating appliance containing at least one wash system and a dispenser for each wash system disposed therein, wherein each dispenser may be divided into multiple chambers, and also containing a bulk dispensing cartridge with at least one pump in fluid connection with a chamber of each dispenser.

BACKGROUND

Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, may have a configuration based on a rotating basket that defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. A laundry treating appliance can contain two or more wash systems, with a dispenser comprising multiple treating chemistry chambers and/or a bulk dispenser for either or both wash systems. Such dispensing systems in multiple wash system appliances have historically used separate water supply systems, which are located externally of the appliance, which can become entangled. Also, most household water supplies have a single hot and cold supply, which is sufficient only for one of the wash systems, requiring the home owner to modify their water supply system.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A clothes washer can comprise a single cabinet defining an interior, and also having a top opening providing access to the interior and a front opening providing access to the interior, a lid pivotally mounted to the cabinet to pivot between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the top opening, a drawer slidably mounted to the cabinet to extend from and retract into the interior through the front opening between opened and closed positions, a first vertical axis wash system located within the interior above the drawer, a second vertical axis wash system located within the drawer, a first dispenser located within the interior and fluidly coupled to the first vertical axis wash system, a second dispenser located within the interior and fluidly coupled to the second vertical axis wash system, a water distribution system comprising a distribution header located within the interior and having a supply inlet extending to an exterior of the cabinet, at least one first distribution outlet directly fluidly coupling the distribution header to the first dispenser, and at least one second distribution outlet directly fluidly coupling the distribution header to the second dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a laundry treating appliance in the form of a clothes washer.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a water distribution and dispensing system for the clothes washer in FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the water distribution and dispensing systems in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the clothes washer in FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance according to an embodiment of the invention. The laundry treating appliance may be any appliance which performs a cycle of operation to clean or otherwise treat items placed therein, and is illustrated as a clothes washer 10. The clothes washer 10 may include a structural support system comprising a cabinet 12 within which at least one laundry wash system resides. The cabinet 12 may be of a standard size such as, but not limited to, 24″W×35″H×25″D±10% and can have a chassis and/or a frame defining an interior 18 enclosing components typically found in a conventional clothes washer, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention. The clothes washer 10 may further comprise a top opening 14 and a front opening 16 where both openings 14, 16 provide access to the interior 18. A top lid 20 can be pivotally mounted to the cabinet 12 to pivot between open and closed positions to selectively open or close the top opening 14. In addition, a drawer 30 can be slidably mounted to the cabinet 12 to extend from and retract into the interior 18 through the front opening 16 between open and closed positions.

A first laundry wash system 40 can comprise a first basket 42 defining a first laundry treating chamber 44, and a second laundry wash system 50 can comprise a second basket 52 defining a second laundry treating chamber 54, wherein the top lid 20 can provide access to the first wash system 40 and the drawer 30 can provide access to the second wash system 50. Each basket 42, 52 can be positioned within the interior 18 and constructed to rotate about a vertical axis such that the rotation axis of the first basket 42 is in registry with the rotation axis of the second basket 52 when the drawer 30 is in a closed position. In addition, a drawer lid 32 may be mounted to the drawer 30 for movement between open and closed positions to selectively open and close the top of the second basket 52. The drawer lid 32 may be attached by any method that allows selective access to the second basket 52; for example, a pivoting mechanism or a sliding mechanism may be used.

The first basket 42 and second basket 52 can be sized so that they fit within the standard size cabinet. To accomplish this, at least the basket 42 is shorter in height than a traditional basket when there is only one basket within the standard size cabinet. While at least the first basket 42 is shorter in height, the second basket can also be shorter in height. As the first basket is contemplated to be the primary basket, it is expected to have a greater height than the second basket. It is contemplated that the diameter of the first basket 42 will be larger than or equal to the diameter of the second basket 52, thus, the taller first basket 42 is contemplated to be greater in volume than the second basket 52. As long as the first basket 42 is the primary basket, it is contemplated that the first basket 42 will have a greater volume than the second basket 52 regardless of their diameters. The volume of the first basket 42 is contemplated to be less than 4.5 cubic feet and the volume of the second basket 52 is contemplated to be less than 1.5 cubic feet, with the total cumulative cubic feet of both the first and second baskets 42, 52 is contemplated to be less than 5 cubic feet.

Turning to FIG. 2, the clothes washer 10 may further include a water distribution system comprising a distribution header 150 located within the interior 18 and having a supply inlet 152 extending to an exterior of the cabinet 12, at least one first distribution outlet 100 directly fluidly coupled to a first dispenser 110, and at least one second distribution outlet 200 directly coupled to a second dispenser 220. The first and second dispensers 110, 220 can be positioned relative, such as above, the first and second wash systems 40, 50, respectively, and the second dispenser 220 can be carried by the drawer 30 when sliding in or out of the interior 18.

The first dispenser 110 can comprise multiple first treating chemistry chambers 110A, 110B, 110C. Further, the first distribution outlet 100 can comprise multiple first distribution outlets illustrated as distribution branches 100A, 100B, 100C, where each branch can be fluidly coupled to one of the first treating chemistry chambers 110A, 110B, 110C as shown. In addition, the second dispenser 220 can also comprise multiple second treating chemistry chambers 220A, 220B and the second distribution outlet 200 can be divided into at least two distribution branches 200A, 200B wherein a different branch 200A, 200B can supply a different one of the second treating chemistry chambers 220A, 220B as shown.

The clothes washer 10 can further comprise a valve array 300 comprising a first set of valves 301 for each of the first distribution outlet branches 100A, 100B, 100C, a second valve 302 for the second distribution outlet 200, and at least a third valve 303 downstream of the second valve 302 wherein the third valve 303 may comprise a set of valves 303A, 303B to control the liquid flow between the branches 200A, 200B of the second distribution outlet 200.

In addition to the first and second dispensers 110, 220, the clothes washer 10 can further comprise a bulk dispensing reservoir 400 having a first dispensing branch 401 fluidly coupled to the first dispenser 110 and a second dispensing branch 402 fluidly coupled to the second dispenser 220. Further, a first pump 411 can be fluidly coupled to the first branch 401 and a second pump 412 can be fluidly coupled to the second branch 402.

An alternate view of the water distribution and dispensing systems is illustrated in FIG. 3. It is contemplated that the clothes washer 10 can receive clothing for treatment into either or both of the first wash system 40 and the second wash system 50. Hot and cold water can be supplied from an external source to the distribution header 150. Water can flow through the first distribution outlet 100 and into at least one of the first distribution branches 100A, 100B, 100C to be supplied to at least one chamber in the first dispenser 110. Water can also flow through the second distribution outlet 200 and into at least one of the second distribution branches 200A, 200B to be supplied to at least one chamber in the second dispenser 220. When use of only the first wash system 40 is desired, the third valve or set of valves 303 can prevent water from entering the second wash system 50. Similarly, when use of only the second wash system 50 is desired, the first valve set 301 can prevent water from entering the first wash system 40.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. The bulk reservoir 400 can be positioned within the drawer 30 adjacent the second basket 52 and may comprise multiple chambers 400A, 400B, 400C. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the first wash system 40 may comprise a vertical-axis or horizontal-axis wash system.

It can therefore be appreciated that treating chemistry from each chamber in the first dispenser 110 can be selectively delivered to the first wash system 40 (FIG. 3), and from each chamber in the second dispenser 220 selectively delivered to the second wash system 50, by distributing water to the desired chamber through use of the appropriate valves in the array 300 (FIGS. 2-3). In addition, the first pump 411 can pump treating chemistry from the bulk dispensing reservoir 400 into the first dispenser 110, and the second pump 412 can pump treating chemistry from the bulk reservoir 400 into the second dispenser 220, for use in a cycle of operation. Consequently, it is possible to deliver treating chemistry to either or both dispensers 110, 220 independently of the water distribution system.

To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited in that any number greater than or equal to one, for example two treating chemistry chambers and two distribution outlets, or three chemistry chambers and three distribution outlets, can be contemplated for any dispenser or distribution outlet described herein.

Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that may be dispensed by the dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof.

This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and can include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothes washer comprising: a single cabinet defining an interior and having a top opening providing access to the interior and a front opening providing access to the interior; a lid pivotally mounted to the cabinet to pivot between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the top opening; a drawer slidably mounted to the cabinet to extend from and retract into the interior through the front opening between opened and closed positions; a first vertical axis wash system located within the interior above the drawer; a second vertical axis wash system located within the drawer; a first dispenser located within the interior and fluidly coupled to the first vertical axis wash system; a second dispenser located within the interior and fluidly coupled to the second vertical axis wash system; and a water distribution system comprising a distribution header located within the interior and having a supply inlet extending to an exterior of the cabinet, at least one first distribution outlet directly fluidly coupling the distribution header to the first dispenser, and at least one second distribution outlet directly fluidly coupling the distribution header to the second dispenser.
 2. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the second vertical axis wash system is carried by the drawer.
 3. The clothes washer of claim 1, wherein the second dispenser is carried by the drawer.
 4. The clothes washer of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second dispensers are located above the corresponding one of the first and second vertical axis wash systems.
 5. The clothes washer of claim 2 wherein the first dispenser is located above the first vertical axis wash system and the second dispenser is located above the second vertical axis wash system.
 6. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the first vertical axis wash system comprises a first basket defining a first treating chamber with an open top and the second vertical axis wash system comprises a second basket defining a second treating chamber with an open top.
 7. The clothes washer of claim 6 wherein the first basket is rotatable about a first vertical axis and the second basket is rotatable about a second vertical axis.
 8. The clothes washer of claim 7 wherein the first and second axes are aligned when the drawer is in the closed position.
 9. The clothes washer of claim 6 further comprising a lid mounted to the drawer for movement between opened and closed positions to selectively open and close the open top of the second basket.
 10. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the first dispenser comprises multiple first treating chemistry chambers, the at least one first distribution outlet comprises multiple first distribution outlets, each fluidly coupled to one of the multiple first treating chemistry chambers.
 11. The clothes washer of claim 10 wherein the second dispenser comprises multiple second treating chemistry chambers and the at least one second distribution outlet is divided into at least two distribution branches, with a different distribution branch supplying a different one of the multiple second treating chemistry chambers.
 12. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the at least one first distribution outlet comprises multiple distribution branches.
 13. The clothes washer of claim 12 further comprising a valve array comprising a first set of valves for each of the branches and a second valve for the second distribution outlet.
 14. The clothes washer of claim 13 wherein the second distribution outlet comprises at least two second distribution branches downstream of the second valve.
 15. The clothes washer of claim 14 further comprising at least one third valve controlling the liquid flow between the at least two second distribution branches.
 16. The clothes washer of claim 1 further comprising a bulk dispensing reservoir having a first dispensing branch fluidly coupled to the first dispenser and a second dispensing branch fluidly coupled to the second dispenser.
 17. The clothes washer of claim 16 further comprising a first pump fluidly coupled to the first dispensing branch and a second pump fluidly coupled to the second dispensing branch.
 18. The clothes washer of claim 17 wherein the first dispenser comprises at least three dispensing chambers, with the first dispensing branch fluidly coupled to one of the at least three dispensing chambers, and the second dispenser comprising at least two dispensing chambers, with the second dispensing branch fluidly coupled to one of the at least two dispensing chambers.
 19. The clothes washer of claim 18 further comprising a set of valves selectively fluidly coupling the at least three dispensing chambers and the second distribution outlet to the supply inlet.
 20. The clothes washer of claim 19 wherein the second distribution outlet comprises at least two second distribution branches and a second set of valves controlling liquid flow between the at least two distribution branches.
 21. The clothes washer of claim 20 wherein the bulk dispensing reservoir is located within the interior and above the drawer.
 22. The clothes washer of claim 20 wherein the bulk dispensing reservoir is located within the drawer.
 23. The clothes washer of claim 1 wherein the first basket is taller than the second basket.
 24. The clothes washer of claim 23 wherein the single cabinet is of a standard size or smaller.
 25. The clothes washer of claim 24 wherein the first basket is of a larger volume than the second basket.
 26. The clothes washer of claim 25 wherein the first basket is located above the second basket.
 27. The clothes washer of claim 26 wherein the first basket has a volume less than 4.5 cubic feet, the second basket has a volume less than 1.5 cubic feet, and the total volume of the first and second baskets are less than 5 cubic feet. 